Summer Spark News: Making the Commitment

Our mission at Spark has long been to develop innovative and research-based solutions to society’s complex problems. After a summer that has seen devastating violence and expressions of xenophobia and hate across the country – as well as outpourings of generosity and stories of strength – we see more than ever the need to address racial and structural inequities head-on in order to create meaningful systems change. A few years ago, Spark developed our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity. Since then, we have worked to actualize this commitment, ensuring it is not just words, but that it is embedded in our actions, deeds, and culture. To this end, we have developed an organizational statement on equity and inclusion, which you can read in full here.

This month’s newsletter focuses on what we are doing to keep equity and inclusion front and center in all we do. One example is our new all-gender restroom, which became official this month, in an effort to create a more welcoming space for all persons. The newsletter includes actionable and accessible tools to help support that work, including toolkits on equity, using data, and complex decision-making, as well as blogs on mapping tools to support place-based work.